Each player contributes in their own way, as the two All-Stars play a different game. Judge plays the power game as a middle of the order run producer, leading the league in power numbers (HR, ISO, slg%) while Altuve is a speedy middle infielder with the rare speed/contact/power combo, leading the league in hits, AVG & runner-up in stolen bases. Of course, Altuve's power numbers aren't close to those of Aaron Judge but he's a two time 20/20 player nonetheless.

According to advanced metrics, Judge is a slightly better defensive outfielder than Altuve is a second baseman but since Altuve plays a more premium position than Judge, his defensive metrics are just barely better than Judge's (Altuve 0.7 dWAR/Judge 0.4 dWAR). We are all aware of Judge's strikeout numbers but both players are on-base machines with a similar OBP & Judge has the superior OPS, however Judge plays at the hitter friendly Yankee stadium which is a big contributing reason why. When adjusted to ballpark factors the two players have a nearly identical OPS+ (Altuve 167 OBP+/Judge 168 OPS+). On the flip side, if we want to get deeper into sabermetrics, Judge has a superior wRC+ (170) than Altuve (161). The metric wRC+ is a more polished version of OPS+ that is based on wOBA rather than OPS and similarly adjusts to ballpark factors.

As far as their individual value to the team goes, I believe both ball clubs would still make the postseason without them. At worst, the Yankess lose homefield advantage. The Astros take the division either way which is why I believe Judge has been slightly more important to his team than Altuve.

I'll wait until the final game of the season before voting but even when all stats are final I think my vote will still go to the player I have in mind.

If he had this pace for the year, he'd have totals of: .311 BA with 90 HR and 192 RBI. Obviously off the chart production!

For whatever reason, he tired in July and August, but he's found himself again and is perhaps the greatest threat at the plate of all 10 teams heading into the playoffs. That alone shows he's the ultimate MVP, esp when considering what his season totals are as well. He could obviously carry New York if he stays hot, but I highly doubt he gets much of anything to hit vs Minnesota. We'll see how he's pitched if NY makes it to the ALDS.

This is the conclusion I have come to:
1. Judge & Altuve have been equally productive, just in different ways. Altuve with contact & speed, Judge with the long ball & producing runs. Altuve leads the majors in bWAR (8.4), Judge leads the majors with fWAR (8.2).
2. Ultimately I feel Judge has been slightly more valuable to his team than Altuve. The Astros were going to win the division with or without Altuve and while the Yankees would still have likely grabbed a Wild Card spot without Judge, I feel he gave them the push for home field advantage.
3. As icing on the cake, Judge broke some long standing records along the way (rookie HR record, franchise record for home game HR's by a Yankees player...probably some monthly records too) and did it all as a rookie

- the kid is a rookie
- came a long way from his first debut
- has been “pretty” consistent throughout the season with the exception of his minor slump
- not a factor, but he won the HR Derby
- broke and set various Rookie and Yankee records